More flu vaccine arrives

More clinics for students and one for public now scheduled

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

As the peak of the flu season approaches, health officials in St. Mary's County continue to put out an all-call for vaccinations against both the seasonal and H1N1 flu strains.

More vaccination doses for H1N1 arrived this week and have been given to students at several schools so far with the rest scheduled throughout this month.

The vaccines are being offered to all school students in St. Mary's County at no charge. "Our response rate [in kindergarten through grade 12] has been very high. It's admired throughout the state," said Karen Everett, spokesperson for the St. Mary's County Health Department and county government. "It will benefit the rest of us" who do not fall in the high risk categories because it will dampen the spread of the flu, she said.

There have been some concerns from parents who said they do not know whether or not their child was vaccinated with seasonal or H1N1 vaccines after a clinic at school.

Everett said that the health department does offer receipts that say which vaccines were given and whether they were given in the form of a shot or nasal mist. The health department has had some calls, mostly from parents of middle or high school students.

If a parent still is uncertain, he or she can call the school nurse who will have information on file, Everett said. "Of course, they are really busy right now," she said of the nurses.

Along with people age 24 and younger, those with certain circumstances are at a higher risk for complications from the swine flu, and can get the H1N1 vaccination for free through the county health department at a clinic planned on Nov. 18 after school at Chopticon High.

Although the Centers for Disease Control reports that children under 5, especially those less than age 2, are in a high risk category, the public clinic on Nov. 8 will only vaccinate children age 3 or older.

"A school setting is not an appropriate setting to administer vaccine to a child 6 months to 3 years," Everett said. She recommended any parents with children in that age category consult their family physician.

Others who will be eligible for the vaccinations at the Nov. 18 public clinic include adults 65 and older; pregnant women; and people with medical conditions such as asthma, neurological conditions, chronic lung disease, heart disease and other disorders or weakened immune systems.

As of the end of October there have been two hospitalizations for H1N1; a 4- and a 5-year-old, according to a spokesperson from St. Mary's Hospital. Both recovered within four days.

The death toll from this flu season in Maryland rose to 13 last week after an adult with pre-existing health conditions from the Baltimore metropolitan area died, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Two other adults who had no apparent underlying medical conditions from the Baltimore region died earlier in the week.

The CDC reported that since Aug. (the beginning of the 2009-2010 flu season) through Oct. 17, that 2,416 people nationwide have died from influenza and pneumonia-associated illness and 21,823 have been hospitalized.

The CDC advises people who get the flu to stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. According to the CDC, most people with the H1N1 flu or seasonal flu this year have had a mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs.

The CDC said that people are told not to go to the emergency room with flu symptoms unless certain warning sings appear, which include fast breathing or trouble breathing; blue skin color; not waking up or interacting; a fever accompanied by a rash; and severe or persistent vomiting.

Antiviral drugs can make a person with the H1N1 flu or seasonal flu better faster and may prevent serious complications.

jyeatman@somdnews.com